My life as a secondary school science teacher.

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Mitosis Lesson

If I had a gun to my head and absolutely HAD to pick a favourite topic in biology, I would probably choose mitosis and meiosis. I can’t imagine that this would ever be the case, but you know, it paints a pretty picture. After 7 years of studying meiosis I still have to think about how to spell it – I don’t know what it is, I just find it so tricky. Anyway, mitosis. I taught this for my very first time on my first teaching practicum and the students absolutely ate it up.

Let me explain why.

So you know how when you’re really excited about something you become very animated about it and you can’t help but infect everyone with your excitement. Yeah that’s pretty much what happened. You can see the powerpoint I used to help in my presentation and you can pretty much feel the excitement leaping out at you.

I stole borrowed a lot of ideas from the one and only Hank Green of the VlogBrothers. They have an amazing YouTube series called Crash Course. Here, go watch it and come back.

Oh hai there. Welcome back!

So what I basically did was tell my students (half of whom were on an excursion anyway) put your books away. This is the most exciting story you will ever be told and I don’t want you to write anything I just want you to listen. In retrospect I probably should’ve “Checked for Understanding” but I was a novice. I might do it slightly different in future. I told them about how at a cellular level our bodies are incredible. We make over 300 billion cells per day. Just try to wrap your head around that for a second. There are 7 billion people on the planet. Gosh I love science.

So even on your laziest day where you watch 2 whole seasons of Orphan Black because your student may have told you that it’s a really good show to watch and you totally agree cause it’s about cloning. Even on those days you are freaking incredible. Then I said to them: When do we even need mitosis? What is it?

You cut your finger and your skin needs to repair itself.

BAM MITOSIS.

You’re a newborn and you want to grow bigger and taller.

BAM MITOSIS.

Your immune system wants to fight off disease.

BAM MITOSIS.

Your stomach lining is eaten away by the cells they produce.

BAM MITOSIS.

Are you noticing a pattern here? And half the class said BAM MITOSIS. It was a good moment.